LIVINGSTON, Ala. --- The Mississippi College baseball team's rally comes up short short as the Choctaws (2-7, 0-1 Gulf South Conference) fall 9-7 at the University of West Alabama on Friday, Feb. 18. The two teams close out the series on Saturday, Feb. 19 in a doubleheader. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.
 
Ken Scott led the way at the dish going 3-for-5 with a pair of RBI and two runs. Cody Crifasi and Lane Willis each added a pair of knocks to join Scott in the multiple-hit column as Markarius Lee drove in two for the other multi-RBI performance.
 
Joseph Cuomo (1-2) took the loss on the mound as he totaled seven innings on the bump with nine runs -  five earned - allowed on seven hits with three strikeouts and a walk.
 
After MC struck the first blow of the game, the Tigers amassed most of its runs in the first two innings as they totaled seven of their nine runs on just three hits, but also capitalized on three errors.
 
The Navy and Gold plated two runs in the top of the fifth as Lee drove in Crifasi and Derrek Lathon, Jr., with a single through the left side, but UWA responded with two of its own in the bottom half of the inning behind a pair of RBI-doubles to keep the six-run advantage.
 
The Choctaws began their rally with two more in the sixth as Scott led off the inning with a solo home run down the left field line. It is the Meridian, Miss., native's team-leading third home run of the season and first leadoff shot this season. MC added one more as Tristan Tigrett scored on a Lathon groundout.
 
MC added two more in the eighth as Lance Wade and Crifasi each drove in a run to cut the deficit to two runs. After Connor Christian reached on an error, he was stranded at third base as Jackson Smith struck out the next three batters giving MC a chance at a come-from-behind victory. However, Mason Hollander entered in relief for the Red and White and struck out all three Choctaw batters to shut down the attempt.
 
Brenton Thiels (1-1) got the win on the mound as he tossed 5.1 frames. He allowed five runs on seven hits with two strikeouts and a walk in the start.
 
 
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